Colleagues and residents at the Strachan House Care Home in Blackhall warmly welcomed PC Colin Cursiter and PC Holly Matheson to speak to our residents and guests.
PC Colin Cursiter and PC Holly Matheson spoke to the audience about their time on the force, challenges they face and the rewards from helping the local community, before taking questions from the residents, relatives and guests.
Fran Fisher, the General Manager of Strachan House extended the invitation throughout the local area, “to say thank you to PC Colin Cursiter and PC Holly Matheson for their visit and to all of the great work our emergency services do for us, we here at Strachan House are inviting all members of the police, ambulance and fire services to pop in and take their duty break on us for free.
“We are pleased to offer all of our Strachan House Care Home who stop in tea, coffee, juice, chilled water, delicious homemade cake and biscuits and a healthy selection of fruit, available free of charge; do stop in and say hi, we would be delighted to see you!”
Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals.
Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Strachan House Care Home, in Edinburgh invited the local community into our home to join our residents for a special ‘Prosecco and Art’ event.
Against the backdrop of soothing music, our guests, residents and colleagues took part in a professional art tutorial, with glasses of prosecco and themed snacks courtesy of our wonderful team in the kitchen.
General Manager Fran Fisher said: “It was wonderful to see the local community and our residents come together and share their love for art and creativity and with a glass of fizz in hand everyone had a wonderful time.”
Strachan House Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals.
Strachan House Care Home provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for long stay and respite care needs.
A much cherished Care Assistant at the Strachan House Care Home in Edinburgh has received a prestigious Long Service Award in celebration of working at Barchester Healthcare for 20 years.
Greg Libanan, a much valued Senior Care Assistant, started at Barchester in 2004 and has worked in dedication with residents and their relatives to ensure that their needs have been met over the years.
He was presented with a £250 shopping voucher by visiting Regional Director Mandy Hurst, a golden leaf and gifts from his colleagues and friends.
Adele Keenan, Employee Services Director at Barchester said: “I’m always pleased to hear stories about the long service of Barchester staff and am delighted Greg has achieved this milestone.
“It is dedication like this that ensures our residents are provided with a happy place to live.”
Frances Fisher, General Manager of Strachan House said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating 20 years of loyal service with Greg. He has demonstrated his dedication and loyalty to this home and its residents year after year.
“I speak for all of us here at The Newton House Care Home when I say that I’m looking forward to many more years of working with Greg.”
Strachan House Care Home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Newton House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Staff at Barchester Healthcare’s Strachan House care home, in Edinburgh have welcomed a new General Manager to head up the team.
Fran Fisher will oversee the running of the 83 bed home and will be responsible for a team of 114 staff. Prior to starting in this position Fran was a Regional Director within the care sector bringing a wealth of experience to home.
Fran returned to Barchester in late 2023 before transferring to Strachan House as General Manager, where she had worked as a student nurse 11 years ago.
Strachan House is one of over 200 care homes owned by Barchester Healthcare that offers high quality care to its local communities. The home regularly holds events and activities for its residents and surrounding neighbours.
The new General Manager, Fran Fisher said: “I am delighted to join the team here at Strachan House and am enjoying meeting and getting to know our residents.
“Some of the staff team are familiar from my time here as a student and it’s a great chance to lead the team and get to know staff old and new. I’m looking forward to managing this home and continuing to provide high quality care.”
Mandy Hurst the Regional Operations Director for Strachan House said: “I am pleased to welcome this addition to the team here at Strachan House.
“We are committed to providing high quality care and I really think Fran will be a big hit with our residents.”
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Strachan House Care Home in Blackhall was one of four Barchester homes who set their stage by hosting their first of many Edinburgh Fringe Cares events on Saturday.
Following on from the success of our Edinburgh Fringe Cares events last year at Barchester’s Queens Manor and the ongoing community links that were built, Barchester became the founding sponsor of an even bigger event this year and for years to come – The Edinburgh Fringe Festival Care Fest.
Eventually, the long term goal would be for all Edinburgh care homes to be part of this amazing initiative, no matter what company, but in the meantime Barchester got to go first, with 4 of their Edinburgh homes taking part!
It’s hoped this year’s events will shape the foundations for other care providers to follow suit in the coming years.
Strachan House immerse their residents and families into a spectacular performance from their nominated Edinburgh Fringe performer’s Octovoce, who took the audience through a magical journey of cappella style song.
The promotional event was one of four that Barchester Healthcare sponsored to showcase how the Edinburgh Fringe should be made accessible to everyone in care homes.
Strachan House was one of the four homes to demonstrate how successful these events can be and how it can benefit residents wellbeing.
Mandy, Head of Activities, said: “This was a fun event to do. Staff and residents loved getting on board by dressing up in character and our chefs prepared a themed menu of goodies for the special occasion.
“The home was transformed into a colourful castle of colour as our residents were taken on a magical afternoon of music. But the biggest success has been to be part of the four Barchester homes to showcase how every home in Edinburgh can do this.
“Along with Queens Manor, Archview and Drummond Grange, who also hosted their Edinburgh Fringe Cares events, we hope that this is something that will continue for years to come for everyone living in a care home.
“Putting this event together and having the residents on board with all their ideas has been amazing and to support them to bring it all together has been an honour.
“Professor Joe Goldblatt who attended the event and created the idea behind Edinburgh Fringe Cares has been truly inspiring.”
General Manager, Gordon Philp said, “Our residents and staff have been very excited about this event and the team worked so hard behind the scenes to ensure it is was great success.
“We do our best to provide a wide range of activities and entertainment at Strachan House as part of the lifestyle enrichment programme for residents, and this was will certainly be outstanding, and certainly will be remembered for years to come.
“Our aim was to demonstrate to other care providers how this can be achieved and the benefits of delivering it within a care home setting.”
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Strachan House in Edinburgh will be opening their doors to the local community for an open door event complete with free refreshments on Saturday 19th August.
Taking place between 10am-4pm guests will be able to enjoy a freshly prepared buffet by the home’s Head Chef whilst taking the opportunity to meet the General Manager Gordon Philp and his fantastic team. Why not allow them to take you on a tour of the home and see everything the home has to offer? In the afternoon visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed afternoon tea and ask any questions they may have.
The Strachan House team will be on hand to answer any queries that they may have. A warm welcome awaits every visitor and a free goodie bag upon leaving will ensure that everyone will have a little something to remember their day with us by.
Gordon Philp, General Manager at Strachan House says: “I’m excited about welcoming new visitors and existing friends of the home to our open day.
“Looking for care can be a little bit daunting, but our team here at Strachan House will do all we can to provide all of our guests with the guidance and support they may need, and answer all of their questions, big or small.
“Our open day is a great chance to enjoy everything the home has to offer in a homely and friendly setting- hope to see you all there!”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Residents at Strachan House in Blackhall enjoyed an Afternoon Tea and photoshoot with their loved ones on Sunday in celebration of Father’s Day.
With the lovely warm weather residents were able to enjoy meeting up with loved ones in the home’s garden over afternoon tea freshly prepared by the home’s talented chefs.
Throughout the afternoon the residents and their children were then offered a photo shoot session to capture the special moment with a keepsake photo of their day together.
Gordon Philp, General Manager of the home, said: “We’ve all had a wonderful day today welcoming friends and family into the home.
“Occasions like Father’s Day are so important, it was fantastic to have such a lovely gathering with our residents and their loved ones all together enjoying the sunshine.”
Gerry Smith, resident at Strachan House said: “I’ve had a great time celebrating with my daughter,it has been so lovely to see them and spend some quality time together.
“Father’s Day is such a special day, I’m so pleased we were all able to celebrate together.”
Strachan House Care Home’s varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.
Residents and guests at Strachan House Care Home in Blackhall are looking forward to hitting the high note with their own community innovative choir.
Working with a local charity Forget Me Notes the choir hopes to engage their intergenerational community and create a group where the affected by Dementia have a place to still express themselves through music and song together.
Local residents from Strachan House Care Home will practice many a varied song that allows them to take a trip down memory lane. The Choir will get together once a month with people from the community joining in and all performing together.
The Blackhall Primary School choir will also come along making it a great session of intergenerational fun too.
The idea came about when Mandy Head of Activities at Strachan House made contact with Alan the founder of Forget Me Notes, a local charity that engages those affected by Dementia and other conditions in offering group music and song came together to discuss building a choir from a care home into the community.
“We want to demonstrate that being in a care home doesn’t mean life stops. In fact it’s just getting started. Our aim was to promote inclusion, and invite our community to have the opportunity to be part of something special.
“The choir is an arm that reaches into the community and touches those affected by isolation or loneliness and delivers a safe network of friends and support.
“This choir literally hits all the right notes!”
The choir practice will be held every second Friday of the month at 10.45am at Strachan House and will be open to all who would like to come along.
The hospitality team at the home will also provide a spread of sweet and savoury treats for guests to enjoy during their get together.
Alan said: “We are really looking forward to being part of this new and exciting project.”
General Manager, Gordon Philp said, “Our residents and guests always love a sing along together, so we are very proud of this new innotive and welcoming everyone from our community to join in our choir”
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Staff and residents at Barchester’s Strachan House care home in Blackhall celebrated Easter with a whole host of different activities including an Easter Egg Hunt, hatching duck eggs, afternoon Easter tea for the residents and local community and Easter baking sessions.
Good Friday saw residents at Strachan House enjoy an eggs-tensive range of Easter activities, from an Easter Bonnet parade, egg painting and rolling, to enjoying live entertainment.
Easter Sunday saw residents also tuck in to a delicious tradional Easter lunch prepared by the home’s head chef Paul Gow after hosting a wonderful Easter egg hunt in the beautiful gardens of Strachan House. And if there was any more room from all that chocolate then there was an afternoon tea to relax with amongst family and friends!
General Manager Gordon Philp said “As always, we’ve all been looking forward to Easter. It’s such a lovely time of year – the residents love all the colourful Easter eggs and huge selection of Easter themed activities we had on offer.
“It’s really been an eggs-cellent few days!”
Muriel who is 102 years old and a resident at Strachan House said: “It has been so lovely to spend time with our families and friends this Easter, though like every Easter, I think I’ve eaten too much chocolate!
” It was so wonderful to see everyone go to so much effort. I have really enjoyed having the ducks hatch and spending time playing with them”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.
Strachan House care home in Blackhall is full of fluffy mischief on the run up Easter period!
Residents at Strachan House were pleasantly surprised to see 5 duck eggs arrive on the 4th April just in time to see them hatch for Easter. Children and relatives all throughout the day watched with the residents together as they witnessed the tiny lives come into the world.
Mandy Head of Activities said: “Sharing moments like these together on an intergenerational level is so touching.
“Making and sharing memories young and old is something we cherish here at Strachan House”
General Manager Gordon Philp said: “Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitors at Strachan House. We knew that having the hatchlings here would be a bit of fun for all our residents, especially as some find it difficult to go on many outings in our minibus.
“We are always looking for new activities for the residents and over the Easter period we have seen the enjoyment and the therapeutic influence that the ducks have had on our residents. We can’t wait to see them grow.”
Resident Alex Laird was very excited and touched by watching the ducklings hatch: “As a child I used to love all the animals on the nearby farm.
“Easter has been so very enjoyable so far and it has been wonderful to be part of something special watching new little lives come into the world at Easter.”
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care home’s and hospitals.
Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
